5 Floral-Infused Chocolate Bars to Try at the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025.
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From rose and lychee to seaweed and gorse, these botanical chocolate bars are blooming with flavor.
Floral chocolate bars should be at the top of your must try list this year.
If you’re headed to the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 and wondering where to start, look no further than the trend that’s quietly stealing the show:
- floral-infused chocolate.
In 2025, floral chocolate is everywhere.
Makers are infusing bars with rose petals, bee pollen, lavender, and more—turning simple chocolate into edible bouquets..
These bars offer an exciting entry point into the world of craft chocolate with a sensory, travel-worthy twist. These chocolates bring taste and aroma together in surprising ways. They’re soft, bold, sweet, savory—and always intriguing.
But before we get to that:
Why Floral Chocolate Is Having a Moment
Floral flavors are showing up everywhere in 2025—cocktails, gelato, coffee syrups—and now, chocolate.
Why? Because flowers do more than just smell nice. They:
- Enhance the natural notes of cacao (think berry, citrus, spice)
- Add depth and complexity to simple bars
- Evoke specific places and seasons (a bite of lavender can transport you to a summer field in France)
At the festival, floral-infused bars are more than a niche—they’re a full-on movement.
Here are five you’ll want to taste before the weekend’s over.
Top 5 Floral-Infused Bars You Can’t Miss
1. KESSHO – Lychee Rose 48% Dark Milk
Travelling from: Texas, USA
The Vibe: Soft, romantic, and delicately sweet.
Why It Stands Out:
This bar strikes the perfect balance between creamy dark milk chocolate and the gentle perfume of rose and lychee. It’s elegant, not overpowering—like a silky floral latte in bar form.
Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Rosewater and lychee nectar
- Flavor: Creamy with fruity brightness and floral lift
- Texture: Smooth melt, while the dried lychee mixed with the velvety chocolate creates a creamy experience.
Perfect For: The dark milk base makes it great for those new to dark chocolate looking for something fun and floral without diving too deep into dark territory.
2. Spinnaker Chocolate – 70% Uganda with Bee Pollen & Salt
Travelling from: Washington, USA
The Vibe: Sweet, salted dark chocolate with a bright, floral twist.
Why It Stands Out:
This bar combines Ugandan cacao with bee pollen and flake salt for a complex, flavor-layered experience. Sweet and earthy with just a hint of salt.
Tasting Notes:
• Aroma: Honeycomb and flowers
• Flavor: Tart dark chocolate with a floral, pollen sweetness
• Texture: Crisp snap with subtle crunch
Best For: Curious palates looking to explore unique but grounded flavor combinations.
3. The Organic House – Lavender Maple 70% Philippines
Travelling from: Canada
The Vibe: Cozy, herbal, and slightly mysterious.
Why It Stands Out:
This vegan bar blends Philippine cacao with Ontario maple syrup and dried lavender buds. It’s deeply comforting yet aromatic, and the maple sugar adds that perfect sweetness.
Tasting Notes:
• Aroma: Warm maple and lavender
• Flavor: Floral, herbal, and slightly earthy
• Texture: Smooth with gentle botanical grit
Festival Tip: This is the bar people talk about after they leave—find this one on the festival floor.
4. Mirzam Chocolate Makers – Rose Chocolate 62%
Travelling from: UAE
The Vibe: Lush, floral, and exotic.
Why It Stands Out:
Mirzam’s rose-infused dark chocolate is made with single-origin cacao and organic Damask rose petals, evoking ancient spice routes and modern elegance. The floral notes are soft yet unmistakable.
Tasting Notes:
• Aroma: Damask rose and warm spice
• Flavor: Smooth dark chocolate with layered floral depth
• Texture: Silky, rose infused melt
Fun Fact: Inspired by traditional Middle Eastern sweets, Mirzam Chocolate Makers bridge old-world ingredients with modern craft techniques.
5. NearyNógs – Dúlamán 70% (Gorse Flower & Seaweed)
Travelling from: Northern Ireland
The Vibe: Coastal, wild, and a little adventurous—like foraging on a cliffside.
Why It Stands Out:
This bold bar uses foraged gorse flowers and Irish seaweed to create a uniquely savory-floral profile. It’s the most unexpected bar on the list—and maybe the most memorable.
Tasting Notes:
• Aroma: Ocean breeze and wild blossoms
• Flavor: Honeyed floral notes with a touch of umami
• Texture: Soft melt with delicate seaweed flecks
Festival Tip: The obvious choice for this list NearyNógs’ Mourne Lúnasa Lavender bar, another floral hit. But the gorse flower and Irish seaweed have captivated us.
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How to Taste Floral Chocolate
Firstly, don’t over think it. Take a bite and let it melt. Some flavors jump out at us, others take time. It all depends on what flavors you’re already familiar with.
But if you’re keen to really dive in, to get the most out of these beautifully nuanced bars, keep a few tasting tips in mind:
- Warm It Up: Let the chocolate rest in your hand for 10–15 seconds before tasting—it helps release aromatics.
- Smell First: Inhale before you bite. Most floral notes are olfactory first.
- Let It Melt: Don’t rush—let it dissolve slowly on your tongue. Some like to take a few chews to speed up the process – do what suits you best.
- Explore: We like to taste contrasting bars against each other as it makes those difference stand out. As time goes on, you’ll become more familiar with each flavor on its own.
- Pair Smartly: Match floral bars with herbal teas, sparkling wines, or even citrus cocktails for a fun contrast.
Planning Your Northwest Chocolate Festival Day
Here’s what you need to know to make your floral-tasting journey smooth and satisfying:
-
What: The Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025
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Location: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, Washington
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Dates: October 4–5, 2025
-
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (both days)
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Website: nwchocolate.com
For More details:
- See our headline article here: Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025: The Insider’s Guide for Chocoholics
- Check out our entire section dedicated to all things Northwest Chocolate here: Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 Beanstalkr Guide
If you’re keen we’d love to see you at our session.
“Craft Chocolate: Flavors You Never Knew You Needed”. See here for details: Beanstalkr’s Session – Craft Chocolate: Flavors You Never Knew You Needed
See here for the full Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 schedule: Northwest Chocolate Festival Schedule
Smell. Taste. Wander.
Floral chocolate isn’t just a trend—it’s a way to reconnect with your senses. Whether it reminds you of your favorite tea, a summer garden, or a far-off spice market, these bars bring storytelling to every square.
The Northwest Chocolate Festival is your chance to travel the world through petals and cacao. So take your time, follow your nose—and don’t forget to grab a few bars to bring the experience home
Want more chocolate reviews like this? Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive tasting notes, festival guides, and small-batch picks from around the globe. As always, thanks heaps for talking beans with us.
Where to next?
If you’re off to the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025, we recommend:
And if you’re curious, we recommend:
And if you’re still not so sure, check out what events or makers are in your area:
Talk Beans with us!
Got any questions? Feedback? Want to hi say? Reach out below – we’re always happy to chat!
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